Active Shooter Preparedness
Emergencies Can Happen Anytime - Are You Ready?
Why should you prepare??
Preparedness can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. You can also decrease the impact of disasters and sometimes avoid the danger completely!
As a team member of the MediSys Health Network, your level of personal and family preparedness helps enhance the overall preparedness efforts at the workplace. During an emergency, the health network relies on you to help sustain normal operations to continue serving patients.
As a team member of the MediSys Health Network, your level of personal and family preparedness helps enhance the overall preparedness efforts at the workplace. During an emergency, the health network relies on you to help sustain normal operations to continue serving patients.
What is an Active Shooter and How do I Respond?
Unfortunately, active shooter events are a reality and something we need to prepare for. Active shooter situations are unpredictable, evolve quickly and generally continue until stopped by law enforcement. An active shooter event can take place anywhere including work, school, shopping centers, etc. To react to an active shooter situation you must be ready to RUN, HIDE, DEFEND. Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY
RUN and escape, if possible
HIDE if escape is not possible
DEFEND as a last resort when your life is in imminent danger
Law Enforcement Response
When law enforcement arrives their first priority if to neutralize the threat. They will be arriving with weapons drawn and will be shouting commands you should:
Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness is being mindful of your surroundings. More specifically, it is a mindset that allows a person to notice a potential threat in time to react accordingly. No matter where you are, whether at work, shopping, or out doing something recreational, make a habit of scanning your environment so you can be prepared to react. Tips include:
WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY
RUN and escape, if possible
- Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority
- Leave your belongings behind
- Help others, if possible, but evacuate regardless if others agree to follow
- Be aware of your surroundings and have an escape route and plan in mind
- Warn and prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.
- Call 911 when you are safe, and describe shooter, location, and weapons
HIDE if escape is not possible
- Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view
- Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
- Remain quiet and silence your cell phone
- Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off lights.
- Don’t hide in groups- spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter.
- Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
DEFEND as a last resort when your life is in imminent danger
- Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
- Act with physical aggression and throw items at the shooter
- Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible.
Law Enforcement Response
When law enforcement arrives their first priority if to neutralize the threat. They will be arriving with weapons drawn and will be shouting commands you should:
- Remain calm and listen to all instructions
- Keep your hands empty and visible at all times
- Avoid any quick sudden movements towards officers
- Avoid pointing, screaming, or yelling
- Officers will shout commands and may push individuals to the ground for their safety.
- Follow law enforcement instructions and evacuate in the direction they come from, unless otherwise instructed.
Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness is being mindful of your surroundings. More specifically, it is a mindset that allows a person to notice a potential threat in time to react accordingly. No matter where you are, whether at work, shopping, or out doing something recreational, make a habit of scanning your environment so you can be prepared to react. Tips include:
- Be alert and observant.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Have an escape route plan in mind.
- Know where you are at all times in case you have to call 911.
- Know where the exits and stairwells are.
- Constantly scan your environment.
- Know how the locks operate.
- Know where your "safe room" is.